CHAPTER 654: CHAPTER 315: [STUNNED BY THE DRONE STRIKE] (4K)

However, the information on the Republic over here is much less compared to the United States and the Soviet Union.

There was some confusion in the live stream comments.

And Yu Feng spoke up with the answer:

"At this stage, the Republic is still making steady progress."

"The advancements can be described as swift."

"Why do I say that?"

"You’ll understand after I finish talking."

"Firstly, to continue from last time, didn’t the Republic send thousands of students abroad to learn new technologies in 1980?"

"And then it was 1981."

"This year."

"The Republic’s own technology also made significant breakthroughs."

"The DF-5 intercontinental missile (with a range of 12,000 km) officially entered service, covering the mainland of the United States."

"The international status improved a lot."

"At the same time."

"There were also significant socio-economic issues within the Republic."

"Reforms were also initiated."

"Thinking about it makes sense."

"The economic crises in the United States and the Soviet Union inevitably affected the Republic, as it was a global issue."

"When the leading nations are in economic crisis, the countries and federations underneath are inevitably affected."

"Fortunately, the Republic at this time could adjust itself, unlike Eastern or Western Europe, which were entirely dependent on the two superpowers."

"Their problem was that if the Soviet Union and the United States didn’t intervene, they couldn’t resolve it themselves."

"The Republic, however, broke free from the influence of the two superpowers and was able to slowly adjust on its own."

"It’s also because the Republic was focused on its own development and did not get involved in the quagmire of war."

"Otherwise, external influences would have made it difficult."

"Like the Soviet Union, which, despite its efforts for self-rescue, couldn’t compete with the United States’ support for various countries in Eastern Europe and covert financial support to disrupt the Afghanistan Federation."

Yu Feng continued to look at the data and continued to speak:

"And then came 1982."

"This year."

"The Republic’s total grain output broke records again."

"It increased nearly 40% compared to the total grain output in 1978."

"It was considered a huge breakthrough."

"Then there was the Republic’s proposed foreign policy, which still prioritized independence."

"Not relying on any major power."

"Avoiding dependence."

"The Republic firmly believed in being strong on its own."

"Otherwise, once you become overly dependent."

"If one day a superpower imposes sanctions, wouldn’t you be powerless to fight back?"

In fact.

This strategy was also seen as very clever by netizens on Blue Star.

Why?

Because once you rely on a superpower, forming a habit, then if one day the superpower targets you, you wouldn’t even have time to react.

Just like the Soviet Union’s reliance on grain imports.

And when the United States imposed sanctions, the Soviet Union was instantly dumbfounded, as no one would sell it grain, even if there were a few sellers, they demanded gold.

The Rubles of the Soviet Union became waste paper.

Either exchange gold for grain or exchange technology or materials for grain.

This dependence on imported grain cost the Soviet Union dearly.

But there was no choice.

They could only use gold to buy grain.

As a result, the Soviet Union’s gold reserves were almost depleted.

Yet the grain crisis was still unresolved.

Therefore, while focusing on its own development, the Republic also paid attention to grain production, reaching new highs year by year.

After all, today the United States could use grain to sanction the Soviet Union.

So, won’t there be a day in the future when they use grain to sanction the Republic as well?

Things can’t be left until the moment they happen to come up with a solution.

Breaking away from dependence on superpowers in every way, developing itself as much as possible.

Otherwise, like the Soviet Union or the countries of Europe under its rule.

A single mistake could trigger a chain reaction.

Eastern European countries, reliant on the Soviet Union, fell into economic and grain crises, and the satellite countries below were even more affected due to their inseparable ties to the Soviet Union.

Before the internal chaos of the Soviet Union even happened.

The countries of Eastern Europe had already started to fall into chaos.

What major countries can withstand, smaller ones may not be able to bear.

So, after realizing this.

The Republic strived to become independent.

Yu Feng continued:

"Then came 1983."

"This year."

"The Republic made another breakthrough in technology."

"The Galaxy-1 supercomputer was successfully developed in Changsha."

"Making it the third country, after the United States and Japan, capable of independently designing and manufacturing supercomputers."

"In the same year."

"The Republic reached a military cooperation agreement with the United States."

"Acquiring technical data for military equipment like anti-tank missiles and armed helicopters."

Yu Feng continued:

"Then came 1984."

"This year."

"The Republic and the British Commonwealth signed the ’Joint Declaration.’

"Confirming the return of Hong Kong Island."

"This news attracted the attention of many foreign companies to the Republic."

"At the same time."

"This year, the Republic initiated urban reforms, opening 14 coastal cities to foreign investment, attracting numerous foreign enterprises to establish factories in the Republic."

"The Republic’s market became more prosperous."

Yu Feng looked through the data.

The development of the Republic over these years, compared to the open and concealed struggles between the United States and the Soviet Union, was indeed too peaceful.

Truly, they did not concern themselves with outside affairs.

Yu Feng looked at the last bit of data and spoke:

"And then it was 1985."

"This year."

"The Republic began to reform its military."

"Reducing its troops by one million, shifting the focus of strengthening the military toward technological advancement."

"Thus."

"The development over these five years also came to an end."